The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia by Michale Booth
Winner of the Best Narrative Travel Book Award from the British Guild of Travel Writers
The Danes are the happiest people in the world, and pay the highest taxes. 'Neutral' Sweden is one of the biggest arms manufacturers in the world. Finns have the largest per capita gun ownership after the US and Yemen. 54 per cent of Icelanders believe in elves.
Norway is the richest country on earth. 5 per cent of Danish men have had sex with an animal.
Michael Booth has lived among the Scandinavians, on and off, for over ten years, perplexed by their many strange paradoxes and character traits and equally bemused by the unquestioning enthusiasm for all things Nordic and hygge that has engulfed the rest of the world.
He leaves his adopted home of Denmark and embarks on a journey through all five of the Nordic countries to discover who these curious tribes are, the secrets of their success and, most intriguing of all, what they think of each other. Along the way a more nuanced, often darker picture emerges of a region plagued by taboos, characterised by suffocating parochialism and populated by extremists of various shades.
Format: Paperback | 416 pages
Dimensions (cm): 19.8 x 12.8 x 2.5 | 298g
Publication Date: 01 Apr 2015
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Imprint: Vintage
Publication City/Country: London, United Kingdom
Language: English
ISBN10: 0099546078
ISBN13: 9780099546078
Condition: Very Good
A book that does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. Very minimal damage to the cover, including tiny scuff marks along the edges. No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. Very minimal wear and tear.